Aquaponics is a production system that results from the interaction between aquaculture and hydroponics. Whereas the mechanistic view of aquaculture and hydroponics has been explained using a simplistic nitrogen (N) cycle pathway, a new perspective on aquaponics could be obtained through the lens of a meta-holobiont. In this perspective, the symbiotic interplay across levels involving fish, plants, and microbes will be crucial for understanding and engineering aquaponics. With the advent of omics technology, it has become easier to explain the molecular basis of nutrient cycling and system stability. Although most available data are descriptive at present, they provide a foundation for understanding microbial interactions within the system. In this paper, we examine the genomic signatures of the N cycle, focusing on the roles of comammox bacteria and nifH-mediated N fixation. Moreover, the functionality of siderophore-producing microbes in enhancing nutrient bioavailability will be analyzed. Additionally, we explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites and Induced Systemic Resistance. Lastly, we discuss the path to aquaponics 4.0 and bio-digital twin modeling in aquaponics.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of knocking out the myostatin gene ( mstnb1 ), which restricts muscle development in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), using CRISPR/Cas9 technology on growth performance and feed efficiency. Within the scope of this research, which aims to increase sectoral productivity in aquaculture, two different gRNAs targeting the first exon of the mstnb1 gene were designed. Sanger sequencing analyses confirmed the successful creation of mutations in the F0 generation, involving a 5 bp deletion with gRNA1 and a 1 bp insertion and 6 bp deletion with gRNA2. During a 10-month follow-up period between May 2024 and March 2025, the growth parameters of mutant individuals were compared with a wild-type (WT) control group. At the end of the experiment, mutant fish reached an average weight of 825.0 ± 12.3 g, while the WT group remained at 464.1 ± 9.2 g. These results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mstnb1 disruption successfully induces the "double muscularity" phenotype and has high biotechnological potential in rainbow trout farming, potentially shortening production time and reducing unit costs.

Abstract The effects of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9‐mediated disruption of the myostatin gene (mstnb1) on the growth performance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were evaluated. Two specific guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting the first exon of the target gene were co‐injected into fertilized eggs. While the survival rate of the injected embryos at the swim‐up stage was 23.5%, Sanger sequencing of F0 individuals confirmed the successful generation of mutations. During a 10‐month growing period, quantifiable phenotypic data revealed a significant enhancement in macroscopic somatic growth. The mstnb1‐F0 mosaic fish exhibited an approximate 56% increase in body weight compared to the wild‐type (WT) control group. Specifically, the mutant group reached an average weight of 825.0 ± 12.3 g, significantly outperforming the WT group, which reached 464.1 ± 9.2 g. Our results demonstrate that disruption of the mstnb1 gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology induces a striking somatic weight gain rather than merely altering microscopic muscle fiber characteristics, demonstrating high biotechnological potential for shortening production time and reducing unit costs in sustainable rainbow trout aquaculture.

Growing in popularity as the demand for sustainable food production increases is aquaponics, a symbiotic hybrid of hydroponics and aquaculture. Nonetheless, long-term viability depends on effective and environmentally conscious control of pests like weeds, illnesses, and insects. This review highlights new research on the production and application of biopesticides in aquaponics systems, which represents a significant breakthrough in comprehensive pest management. We highlight the limitations of biopesticide use by assessing production processes, providing a comprehensive analysis of the most effective types of biopesticides for a variety of pests, and recommending effective application methods. Our goal is to address significant issues and offer fresh perspectives in order to offer practical guidance to aquaponic practitioners. Eventually, this encourages the development of strong and environmentally conscious aquaponic systems, ensuring comprehensive and efficient pest control while maintaining ecological equilibrium.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the microbial and sensory properties of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets by applying tea tree oil. The samples are divided into 3 groups. 1st group (the control group), 2nd group, 1% tea tree oil applied group (B), 3rd group 3% tea tree oil applied (C) group. The fillets were stored at 4±1ºC for 12 days. Fillets were then subjected to pH, microbiological (total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, yeast-mould) and sensory (appearance, general acceptability, odor and color) analysis. It was found that the use of tea tree oil in rainbow trout fillets had a significant (p<0.01) effect on total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, yeast-mould counts and pH values. In terms of the sensory parameters, the most liked group was the control group. As a result of the research, it was determined an inhibitory effect on bacteria depending on the concentration of tea tree oil.

The identification of myostatin (mstn) gene functions in salmonids has been complicated by two whole-gene duplications (WGDs), leading to the presence of up to four mstn genes in their genomes, as opposed to the one or two copies found in other vertebrates. In this research, we molecularly cloned and characterized four mstn genes-Sl-mstna1, Sl-mstna2, Sl-mstnb1, and Sl-mstnb2-in the Black Sea trout (Salmo labrax). We propose that Sl-mstnb2 is a pseudogene due to a nonfunctionalization event, while Sl-mstna1, Sl-mstna2, and Sl-mstnb1 are retained in the Salmo labrax genome due to subfunctionalization. Notably, the expression level of the Sl-mstna1 and Sl-mstna2 genes varied across different tissues, implying divergent regulatory mechanisms. Starvation and high temperature increased mRNA expression of Sl-mstna1 and Sl-mstna2, while Sl-mstnb1 transcription was decreased by both stress factors. The tissue-specific transcription and modulation of Sl-mstnb1 were distinctly different from those of the Sl-mstna duplicates, suggesting functional divergence between the Sl-mstna and Sl-mstnb1 genes.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated protein (CRISPR-Cas) system is considered a potential game-changer in the aquaculture sector. The CRISPR-Cas9 system is derived from an adaptive mechanism of the immune system of some prokaryotes. The CRISPR/Cas9 system potentially accelerates the rate of sustained genetic gain for the aquaculture and seafood production sectors. Unlike conventional genome-editing techniques, CRISPR/Cas9 is more cost-effective, user-friendly, and extremely precise. It enables overcoming large-scale challenges in aquaculture. Traits such as high fertility, external fertilization, shorter generation time, well-established breeding methods, and the ability to raise larvae offer potential benefits for applying CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in most aquacultural species. The use of genome editing accelerates precise breeding where desired modifications are made to the target gene. There is a high likelihood that the intended alterations will be achieved, resulting in the transmission of the desired trait to the next generation. In this paper, we review how the CRISPR system evolved, its basic categories and different Cas systems, as well as the molecular mechanism of CRISPR/Cas. We also highlight and discuss the potential applications of CRISPR/Cas in the aquaculture industry. Moreover, the challenges of using CRISPR/Cas technology are briefly discussed. This pathway charts a course to a future in which genome editing has the potential to enable aquaculture to fulfill world food requirements with public and ecological safety.

This study aimed to determine the effects of silverberry (Elaeagnus angustifolia) powder, used as a functional additive, on the quality characteristics of trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) meatballs. In the formulation, silverberry seed powder was exclusively used instead of wheat breadcrumbs, which are commonly employed as binders and texture enhancers in traditional meatball production. Silverberry is known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties due to its high content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and dietary fiber, making it a promising natural additive for food applications. Within the scope of the research, trout meatballs were prepared with varying levels of silverberry powder (0%, 10%, 15% and 20%), and the samples were subjected to chemical (pH, TVB-N, TBARS), microbiological (total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), psychrotrophic bacteria (TPB), and yeast-mold counts (TYM)), and sensory analyses. The results revealed that silverberry powder enhanced the oxidative stability of the meatballs, inhibited microbial growth, and positively influenced several quality parameters. Moreover, sensory evaluation indicated that the inclusion of silverberry seed powder at certain levels did not adversely affect consumer acceptance. These findings demonstrate that silverberry powder can be effectively used as a natural additive in fish-based products, offering both functional and technological benefits. Additionally, its use contributes to sustainable food production by valorizing a plant-based by-product.

Seafood is among the most important recommended foods due to its rich protein, mineral and fat content. In recent years, food has become an extremely important product in terms of maintenance due to increasing food demand and decreasing contractual production. In the current research, face-to-face questions were examined with 128 people living in Kütahya province and its central districts, and the answers given were evaluated with the Chi-square interval test. 76 women (59.4%) and 82 men (40.6%) that participated in this survey. According to the age analysis, 21.8% are under 21; 9.4% are between 21-30; 21.8% were between 31-40; 21.8% were between 41-50; 6.4% were between 51-60 and 18.8% were between 61-70. It was observed that there was a relationship between increasing income and fish meat consumption, and fish meat was preferred at a higher level of income. In addition, it has been an important data that young people in later periods consume more fish.

The molecular characteristics and tissue disruption of 10 fatty acid-binding protein (fabp) genes in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) were investigated, and their expression levels were found in the fish fed diets with different vegetable oil (VO) sources, which may explore the potential function of fabp genes in S. aurata. For this purpose, the open reading frames of fabp genes involved in the transport and beta-oxidation of fatty acids (FA) were molecularly cloned and characterized. S. aurata was then exposed to a two-staged feeding trial (the grow-out period following a wash-out period) at low water temperatures. In the grow-out period, the fish were fed diets containing 50% and 100% ratios of various VOs for 60 days, and in the wash-out period, the fish were fed a diet containing 100% fish oil (FO) for 30 days. It has been determined that (a) S. aurata and vertebrate fabp/FABP genes are orthologues; (b) spatio-temporal differences in tissue-specific patterns of fabp genes differ importantly; for instance, the difference between the highest and lowest values reaches 13 x 10(5)-fold in the fabp10a; and (c) VO-based diets upregulated fabp transcript levels in the liver and muscle with some exceptions, such as liver fabp11a and muscle fabp7a. Gene expressions of only the hepatic fabp7b and fabp10a genes were diminished at the end of the wash-out period. In this study, the authors provide further evidence that dietary FAs affect fabp mRNA expressions in S. aurata. This might be useful in the nutritional control of fabp genes to maintain lipid homeostasis in marine fish fed VO-based diets at low water temperatures.

The present study focused on conducting in silico analysis and investigating the tissue-specific distribution and expression of the catalase gene in platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus), which can be used as a model organism for studying stress responses in fish. Assay of the steady-state levels of cat gene transcripts by real time PCR revealed. The steady-state level of platyfish cat transcript was abundant liver (2162.21) compared with the level of cat transcript in intestine (1270.94), heart (1241.25), muscle (419.157), brain (46.205), eye (47.57), swimming bladder (28.99), gills (81.18), spleen (95.45), kidney (20.25) ovary (91.16) and testis (113.22). The results suggest that the liver is the major site of cat expression in platyfish, with significantly higher expression levels compared to other tissues. In addition, the research involved using bioinformatics tools to analyze the genetic sequence of the catalase gene and predict its structure and function. The results of the study indicated that the cat in Platyfish shares a high sequence identity and similarity with its orthologs in other teleost species, including medaka, fugu, and zebrafish. This observation suggests that the cat gene is conserved among these fish species, and the gene’s function and regulatory mechanisms are likely to be similar. The high conservation of the cat gene among teleost fish species highlights the importance of this gene in the antioxidant defense system and its potential role in responding to environmental stressors. Platyfish cat gene exhibits a conserved gene structure, as evidenced by its conserved gene synteny with the orthologous cat/CAT genes in other teleost fish and humans. Overall, the study provides evidence for the highly conserved gene structure of the cat gene in platyfish, which contributes to its functional stability and the maintenance of its critical role in antioxidant defense and stress response mechanisms.

The complexity of retinoid intracellular signaling by lipid-binding proteins is further confounded in salmonids, owing to a whole genome duplication (WGD), followed by a second salmonid-specific WGD. As such, many more cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (crabp)/retinol-binding protein (rbp) genes may exist in salmonids, compared to other vertebrate species. In this study, genomic database searches and phylogenetic analyses identified seven crabp and eight rbp genes in the rainbow trout. A parsimonious explanation for the number of crabp/rbp genes in the rainbow trout genome is duplicated genes were lost from the genome by nonfunctionalization following the salmonid-WGD, and the extant duplicate crabp/rbp genes of the much earlier teleost-WGD have been retained by either sub- or neofunctionalization of tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms. Nutritional regulation of retinoid-binding protein genes in the liver was also determined in the fish fed diets containing various amounts of canola oil (CO) for 12 weeks along with hepatic fatty acid profile, Vitamin A (VitA) level, and growth parameters. The crabp/rbp transcripts were modulated markedly by experimental diets except for rbp2a.1/rbp2a.2 at the end of the trial. This result suggests that rbp2a.1/rbp2a.2 don't exhibit obvious divergence of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that control their nutritional regulation by dietary CO. Growth parameters didn't differ markedly among dietary treatments. An understanding of VitA homeostasis, especially the regulatory effects of retinoids on transcriptional control of target genes, may have considerable importance to basic fish development, physiology, and aquaculture and this study may lead to future research on molecular VitA metabolism especially in salmonids experienced salmonid-WGD.

Bu çalışmada, farklı oranlarda (%4 ve %8) keten ve çiya tohumu ile zenginleştirilmiş yayın balığı (Silurus glanis) köftelerinin bazı kalite kriterlerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Balık köfteleri depolamanın belirli günlerinde (1, 7 ve 14. gün) toplam aerobik mezofilik bakteri (TAMB), psikrotrofik bakteri, maya-küf, tiyobarbitürik asit (TBARS), toplam uçucu bazik azotu (TVB-N), pH ve duyusal kalite parametreleri yönünden araştırılmıştır. Mikrobiyolojik analiz sonuçlarına göre keten ve çiya tohumu ile zenginleştirilmiş köfte örneklerinde bakteri sayısı, kontrol grubu örneklere göre daha düşük bulunmuş ve tüm gruplarda depolama süresine paralel olarak artış (p<0,05) tespit edilmiştir. TVB-N ve pH değerleri kontrol grubunda daha yüksek bulunurken, TBARS değeri keten ve çiya tohumu ilaveli balık köftelerinde daha yüksek saptanmıştır. Duyusal analiz sonuçları incelendiğinde ise depolama boyunca doku hariç tüm gruplar arasından en çok beğenilen grup kontrol grubu olmuştur. Çalışmamızda keten ve çiya tohumu ilavesinin genel olarak kalite kriterleri üzerine olumlu etki ettiği görülmüştür.

Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) carries a risk of long-term pulmonary sequelae. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is a method of detecting such structural changes. This study is aimed at characterizing structural abnormalities associated with BPD and at evaluating the clinical findings in the newborn period associated with HRCT scores. Methods 28 patients born with a mean gestation age of 30 ± 2.9 weeks and diagnosed as BPD in their neonatal period were reevaluated when they were between the postnatal ages of 6 and 12 months. HRCT was performed in 20 patients with a history of moderate and severe BPD. Scans were interpreted by one radiologist using a scoring system. Results Patients were 9.8 ± 2.3 months at the time of reevaluation. The average HRCT score of patients was, respectively, 7.20 ± 4.05 with moderate and 7.40 ± 2.84 with severe BPD. The difference between them was not significant (p = 0.620). When moderate and severe groups were collected as a whole on the basis of physical findings and drug treatment, 6 had normal physical examination findings, no oxygen and no drug requirement; 14 had at least one finding at the time of reevaluation. No significant difference was detected in terms of HRCT score between the two groups (6.50 ± 3.83 versus 7.64 ± 3.30). Conclusions More studies are needed in terms of the role of HRCT in the assessment of BPD prognosis. A contemporary definition of BPD that correlates with respiratory morbidity in childhood is needed. Also, a new lung ultrasound technique for predicting the respiratory outcome in patients with BPD can be used instead of HRCT.

Vegetable lipids such as camelina oil (Camelina sativa) are used as alternatives oil sources to fish oil in aquafeeds. In this study, we determined fatty acid-binding protein 3 (fabp3) and fatty acid-binding protein 6 (fabp6) gene expression and fatty acid composition in the liver and muscle tissue of rainbow trout fed different amounts of dietary camelina seed oil [100% (CO100), 67% (CO67), and 37% (CO33)]. Palmitic acid and oleic acid were identified as the most abundant saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, respectively, in both tissues across all experimental groups. The highest levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (Σn- 6 PUFA) were found in the first biopsy (15th day) taken from fish fed a diet of CO100, while the highest Σn–3 PUFA level was found in the third biopsy (45th day) taken from the same group. The FO100 (fish oil) diet was found to have the highest Σn-3 / n-6 ratio, as well as the highest levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In general, the fatty acid composition of the fish reflected that of their respective diets. The expression of fabp3 and fabp6 genes in the muscle of fish fed camelina seed oil were not significantly different from control group. However, fabp3 gene expression of liver of FO100 group was found to have significantly higher than CO67 and CO33. A difference in hepatic fabp6 gene expression was also noted in the FO100 group, but was not found to be statistically significant. Growth parameters and survival rate were not affected after the 45 days feeding trial. These results suggest that camelina seed oil can be used as an alternative to fish oil in rainbow trout diet.

It is known that microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in aquatic environments (sea and fresh water), and the presence of these pollutants have worrying potential effects on the biota. This study is the first research to measure and characterize MPs in freshwater ecosystems (inland waters) in Turkey. Accordingly, the identification and characterization of MPs in the gastrointestinal systems of fish by making samples of three species [chub (Squalius cephalus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and mossul bleak (Alburnus mossulensis)] of the carp family living in Karasu River in Erzurum. Hydrogen peroxide application and Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR) analyses were done for this purpose. In the obtained results, 232 microplastics were found in all three fish gastrointestinal systems. While the highest determined color was black (39–58%), the most common shape was fiber (88%), fragment (6%, and pellet (6%); MPs in the range of maximum 1001–2000 mm were detected in size. Plastics are defined as polyethylene, polyester, poly (vinyl stearate), polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and cellulose. Among the studied species, the most common type of plastic pollutants was found in S. cephalus. The findings indicated the presence of microplastics in dominant species. However, these findings will be basic information for future studies on living things and microplastics in inland waters.

The construction sector is one of the sectors where productivity is low compared to other production sectors.Studies have shown that drone technologies can increase productivity in construction.Thus, the use of drones in construction sites has increased in recent years, especially in developed countries.Although drones are technical aerial vehicles, this study focused on non-technical aspects of the use of drone technologies such as current and possible usage areas, advantages and disadvantages of using a drone, issues that should be considered while procuring a drone for a construction site and legal regulations related to the use of drones.In this context, a narrative literature review was conducted and articles examining the use of drones in construction sites were investigated.In addition to the studies in the literature, practical applications were also discussed.The study indicated that drones might make significant contributions to construction management activities.It is expected that this study serves to increase the use of drone technology in construction project management by introducing it in a comprehensive way to the stakeholders.

The present study investigated the effects of 42-day starvation followed by 14-day refeeding, on lipid metabolism in juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta). Starvation significantly decreased plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein levels. The individual and total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid levels significantly decreased throughout the treatment (except stearic acid), and whereas the individual and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels significantly increased, with some exceptions, such as α-linolenic acid. The mRNA expressions of genes involved in the elongation, desaturation and fatty acid oxidation pathways were downregulated (except Δ6fadc), whereas those of pparα, pparγ and pparß were upregulated. Our results indicated that the 14-day refeeding period was sufficient to recover the studied parameters (except growth). To date, no other study has described the effects of starvation on fatty acid metabolism, especially molecular n-3 PUFA metabolism, in brown trout. Therefore, determining the responses of fatty acid metabolism to starvation in brown trout would contribute to further studies on the starvation physiology in teleosts.

Bioinformatics analysis of lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1 (lcp1) gene in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) which is a model organism in experimental studies were completed in this study. For this purpose, characterization and identification of lcp1 has been completed and ensembl database has been used to design the structure of lcp1 gene. In addition, the chromosome region of tilapia lcp1 and other genes in the same region with lcp1were determined. The chromosome of these genes were detected in zebrafish and human which are identical orthologos of tilapia. Conserved gene synteny designed manually according to these chromosomal regions. In addition, amino acid sequences synthesized by lcp1 gene in some vertebrates were determined using some bioinformatics databases such as UNIPROT, ENSEMBL and NCBI before determine the phylogenetic relationship between these organisms and tilapia. Sequence similarity-identity rate of tilapia lcp1 gene with zebrafish, rainbow trout, human, mouse and platyfish lcp1/Lcp1 was calculated using BLOSUM62 matrix algorithm. This study is of great importance for the completion of in silico analysis of lcp1 gene in tilapia because it is an aquatic model organism and it has an important place among economic aquaculture species. However this study provides the basic pioneering information for the future studies on molecular stress response in fish.